ASML (NASDAQ:ASML) Shares Up 1.5% – Time to Buy?

ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) shot up 1.5% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $723.25 and last traded at $721.48. 419,938 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average session volume of 1,386,764 shares. The stock had previously closed at $710.81.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on ASML. Berenberg Bank raised ASML to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on ASML from $1,207.00 to $1,148.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Susquehanna decreased their price target on ASML from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 11th. Barclays upgraded ASML from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on ASML from $1,000.00 to $790.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $970.60.

ASML Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $283.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The business has a 50-day moving average of $820.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $909.35.

ASML Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 7th. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 29th will be given a dividend of $1.407 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 29th. This represents a $5.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. ASML’s dividend payout ratio is currently 28.70%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASML. Resources Management Corp CT ADV acquired a new position in ASML during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. WD Rutherford LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the 2nd quarter worth about $31,000. First Community Trust NA acquired a new position in ASML during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, POM Investment Strategies LLC acquired a new position in ASML during the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. 26.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About ASML

ASML Holding N.V. develops, produces, markets, sells, and services advanced semiconductor equipment systems for chipmakers. It offers advanced semiconductor equipment systems, including lithography, metrology, and inspection systems. The company also provides extreme ultraviolet lithography systems; and deep ultraviolet lithography systems comprising immersion and dry lithography solutions to manufacture various range of semiconductor nodes and technologies.